Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Team Coordinator

Asylos is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator for its MENA Team.

Asylos is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator for its MENA. The Volunteer Coordinator will coordinate the research being produced by the MENA team volunteers to support asylum seekers coming from this region. This entails looking overseeing research into security situations, human rights violations and any other facts that will support an asylum seeker in proving his/her need for protection. The coordinator will have to commit up to four hours per week (on average over the year) and will work in close cooperation with the other team members and team coordinators, and liaise with the asylum case lawyers who request reports from us.

Asylos is a network of volunteer researchers providing on demand background research to support asylum claims. The research concerns the situation in the country of origin of the asylum seeker or other facts relating to an individual asylum claim. In many countries, legal aid provided for asylum seekers is limited. Lawyers can’t devote sufficient time to researching information which may substantiate asylum requests in court. Asylos volunteers look for information that can help to establish whether forcing a refugee to return to his/her country of origin or transit would threaten his/her life or deny fundamental human and civil rights.

Your profile:

• Strong research skills and an experience in academic research (or in country-of-origin information research)
• An interest in leveraging social media for research
• A willingness to use online collaboration tools
• A strong commitment to meet tight deadlines
• At least three years of university‐level studies or equivalent professional experience; law, politics or international relations are excellent preparation.
• Knowledge of and interest in the MENA region
• Very good writing and communication skills in English or French. Ability to read or speak Arabic, Persian, Dari or Turkish would be a strong asset.

What we offer:

• An opportunity to help change the lives of asylum seekers and get involved in a dynamic project with a small but fast-growing organisation
• An international network of highly qualified and motivated volunteers with meetings in Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Brussels and Paris
• An inclusive working atmosphere with room for taking initiative and proposing new projects
• Training in using social media analysis and other research techniques
• Participation in Asylos’ annual network meeting